“I have spoken with Jourdan and Cam and I know they had a conversation where he expressed regret for using those words. We strive as a department to make the environment for media comfortable for everyone covering the team.”

It’s important to note that the team’s statement is vastly different from Rodrigue’s account of the post-conference conversation. She said Newton’s second comments were worse.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy also issued a statement to USA TODAY Sports:

“The comments are just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists who cover our league. They do not reflect the thinking of the league.”